In the 1880s, a new kind of performance became the craze in Argentina and Uruguay. These wild "Creole dramas" glorified country life and the occasionally violent exploits of gauchos*, or Argentinian cowboys. In addition to being hugely fun to watch, the stories appealed to audiences experiencing rapid modernization and waves of immigration. William Acree, associate professor of Spanish, helps us envision these plays and understand their lasting significance.
in the news:
“El orgullo y la nostalgia imperiales están muy arraigados en la identidad colectiva española” An Interview with Akiko Tsuchiya and her co-editor Aurélie Vialette on their new book, Cultural Legacies of Slavery in Modern Spain (SUNY Press, 2025).
Food for Thought
Crossing borders, bridging divides